The bone marrow microenvironment of multiple myeloma promotes myeloma related anemia by suppressing the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by monoclonal plasma cells infiltrating the bone marrow thereby causing anemia and lytic bone lesions. MM patients always accompanied with severe anemia, which may significantly contribute to patient mortality. However, the mechanisms underlying myeloma related anemia have not been fully elucidated. We hypothesized that the MM microenvironment plays a pivotal role on their hematopoiesis differentiation. In the present study, the number and the function of HSPCs in the MM microenvironment were analyzed by MM patient primary samples and myeloma mouse model.